ScriptureStream

The church doesn’t really grow successfully if we only increase in numbers. We must also strengthen and build each other up.

Factors that cause the church to grow:

Loyal to divine authority

Romans 1:16; Acts 8:4

Acts 4:18-19; 5:19 – Peter and John were loyal to divine authority.

Colossians 3:19

II John 1:9

Diligent in teaching

Acts 2:42

Acts 7 – Stephen was so steadfast in preaching that he was stoned to death.

Acts 8:5, 12 – Philip was steadfast in preaching.

Paul suffered and worked much to grow the church through teaching.

Consistent in practice

Acts 2:42; 8:4

II Thessalonians 2:13

Purity in life

Without purity, others will see our hypocrisy and we will accomplish nothing toward God.

Romans 6:4

I Timothy 5:22

II Corinthians 6:14-16

I Corinthians 6:19-20

Ephesians 5:25

Unity in service

Acts 2:46; 4:32

The apostles were of different backgrounds, but they all loved the same God. We are all one in Christ Jesus.

Galatians 3:29

Liberal in giving

III John 1:11

Gaius (III John 1:1-8)

Gaius was walking in the truth.

I John 1:6-7

II John 1:4

III John 1:5-8 – Gaius was evidently helping brethren who were passing through.

I Corinthians 12:13, 15-18 -= We all have our own roles.

Romans 16:1-5ff – Paul calls 35 people by name!

Romans 12:4; Ephesians 4:16 – Every part of the body does its part.

Matthew 10:42

Diotrephes (III John 1:9)

He rejected the message from an inspired apostle!

Matthew 23:2 – Diotrephes was doing the same thing!

Diotrephes had a bad attitude, which was causing him to go wrong in all sorts of ways.

We don’t want to exhibit the sort of pride and selfishness that Diotrephes did.

Philippians 2:3

John 13:14 – Jesus set the example!

Demetrius (III John 1:12)

Only one verse about the man, but it was good!

Psalms 119:1

Hebrews 5:8-9

If God wrote a verse about me, what would it be?

Philippians 4:8-23

Philippians 4:8

“Whatever is true”

The Greek word translated truth here means “non-concealment.”

Matthew 22:16 – Jesus is true, all the way through.

“Whatever is honorable” (also translated noble)

“Whatever is just”

II Samuel 23:23

Psalms 82:2

Proverbs 11:1

“Whatever is pure”

“Whatever is commendable” (or, of good report)

Something that is said well.

Proverbs 25:11

Philippians 4:11-13 – Paul suffered much for the gospel. See II Corinthians 11:16-33

Philippians 4:14 – See Hebrews 13:1, 3; 10:34

Philippians 4:18 – Compare Psalm 23.

Philippians 4:19 – See Matthew 25:40.

II John 1:1-4

II John 1:1 – The “elect lady” cannot be a local church because she is described as having children. Local churches are fully autonomous and do not have children.

There is a state into which all people enter when they obey truth.

Acts 2:47; Galatians 3:26-27

Hebrews 11:6; Acts 17:30; Romans 10:10; Acts 2:38

When one gets into a right relationship with God, he must continue to walk in the light to remain in truth.

There is a correlated body of teaching known as truth that is understandable by man.

Parts of the Bible may be more difficult than others, but the Bible is understandable.

Ephesians 3:3-6

Philippians 3:13-14

Truth furnishes the Christian’s motivation.

Some groups try to use other things for motivation, such as sports or entertainment.

Genesis 22 – Abraham arose early for truth’s sake. Hebrews 11:17-19

Genesis 6 – Noah built the ark for truth’s sake.

Hebrews 11:4 – Abel offered a better sacrifice for truth’s sake.

Acts 20:28

Acts 2:38; Ephesians 4:4-5; I Corinthians 12:27; I Timothy 5:22; James 1:27 – There are many things we must do for truth’s sake.

Truth is the governing principle of the Christian’s life.

II John 1:4

II John 1:2 – Truth dwells in us.

II John 1:9 – We have to abide in the teaching of Christ.

Truth is indestructible

Those who walk in truth have peace with God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

II John 1:3

This is the glory of it all – peace with God!

Proverbs 23:23

A Chinese ophthalmologist tried to warn of the coronavirus but was silenced by the Chinese government.

It is physically dangerous to silence truth. How much more so in religious matters?

Micaiah – I Kings 22

The truth is true, no matter what.

Let’s list a few things that don’t change the truth…

Preference – Cain, Genesis 4:3-5

Emotion – Jacob, Genesis 37:34

Leadership – Aaron, Exodus 32:3-4

Criticism – Korah, Numbers 16:3

Persistence – Balak, Numbers 22-24

Majority – Elijah, I Kings 18:19

Tradition – False teachers, Colossians 2:16-17

Imagination – False teachers, Colossians 2:20-23

Next steps

II Peter 3:3-7

Special pleading, continued:

Can these questions be applied to themselves?

“There is no truth.” – “Is that true?”

“We can’t know anything.” – “Then how do you know that?”

“All truth is relative.” – “Is that truth relative?”

Strawman

What is it?

Ephesians 4:1-3

Mark 14:55-58; John 2:19

“Changing or exaggerating the position of an opponent to make it easier to refute.”

Spiritual importance

This type of tactic is often seen in debates between creation and evolution:

“Creationists do not believe that animals change. But clearly, animals do change. Therefore, creationists are mistaken.”

“Creationists do not believe in science.”

“Creationists believe that species never change in any way.”

“Creationists say there are no good mutations.”

“The Bible teaches that the earth has literal pillars and corners and cannot be moved. It is clearly wrong. (Isaiah 11:12; Psalms 75:3)”

“Creationists don’t believe in the scientific method. They say you should just look to the Bible for all your answers.”

“Creationists don’t believe in rationality. They take things on blind faith instead.”

Think of how Bible discussions might devolve into unprofitable spats if we mischaracterize what the other person believes.

“Oh, you don’t believe baptism is necessary for salvation? In other words, you don’t believe God is sovereign!”

“Oh, you don’t believe baptism is necessary for salvation? In other words, you think we should just throw the Bible away!”

“You Calvinists don’t believe in obedience!”

“You atheists don’t believe in morality.”

I Corinthians 13:4-7 – Christians are to correct those in opposition with gentleness and patience.